Apparatus for sinuous contoured material



y 1950 P. c. ANDRE APPARATUS FOR SINUOUS CONTOURED MATERIAL 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Dec. 9, 1947 y 1950 P. c. ANDRE APPARATUS FOR SINUOUS CONTOURED MATERIAL Filed Dec. 9, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR PE/ Z? /77I (/75 ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 4, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR SINUOUS (lOl 1"I.( )I IRED MATERIAL Peter 0. Andre, Pleasant Ridge, Mich, assignort C r sl r Corp ra Highland a k, Mich...

v .a corporation of Delaware Application December 9, 1947-, Serial No. 790,490

This invention relates to improvements in ap-. paratus for the manufacture of a sinuous formed structural material and more particularly to mechanism for dislodging the material from a machine that imparts the sinuous contour to the material.

The making of sinuous formed structural material in the .past has been tedious because of the difllculty of uniformly and speedily taking the material irom themachine and packing it. Structural aterial consistingoi a plurality of hollow columns can be made by an apparatus including a plurality of forming members mounted on a belt, for example, and adapted to engage successiveportions of sheet stock to loop the same, thereabout and form the hollow columns. Such an appara u h the advantage, of relatively high speed production, but difiiculty has been expe= rienced in releasing the looped materialwirom the forming members due to the fact that the material is looped substantially thereabout and the further fact that the material whenimpregnated with a strengthening agent, for example a resin, may tend to adhere to the forming meme bers. v

The principal object of my invention is to provide apparatus for sinuously contouring ma-. terial with means for detaching the material from the forming machine.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for packing the material after it has been delivered from the forming machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide the apparatus for the sinuous contouring of stru-cs tural material with meansior disposing liquid resin or some othertype of adhesive matter on the material to facilitate keeping the material in a packed position.

A still further object of my invention is to pro. vide means for detaching sinuously forr nedma terial from a iorming machine-wherein the tense employed by this means is applied transversely to the forming bars of the machine. I

Various objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent irom the-following description taken in-connection with the ace companying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a forming machine and paddle-wheel mechanism embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view partly in section taken onthe line 2-4 of Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view ta en on, the line 3-4 of Fig. 2.

Fi 4 is a fro t sec na view o an adhesive d pens g tu e ken. on t lin 4...4 o F g. 1.

F 5 is a perspec ve View 9? the. s n ou ly formed material.

Fi 6 is. a s ctional v ew Qt e ddle-Wh e chanism ta en on h i e 3 o F .Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of, a dis: lod n m hani f r s nuou fo med m ria emb dyin a d fiva an o my inve Referring now to. Fig, l, I have shown, a device for contouring material intosinuous loops. This device comprises a base lqhaving four vertical supports l 1 secured thereto. These supports ll comprise the framework of an oven in which contouring apparatus I2 is housed. A pair of bracket l3 are also secured to the base l0 and are adapted to receive a spool M of material is to be fed into the apparatus I2. Material I5 may be krait paper and is exposed to moisture, as by passing through water bath l5 to absorb a content suflicient to permit deformation of the material without fracture of the fibers thereof.

The apparatus l2 includes a pair of endless belts l6 and ll, of rubber or other-material, ar

' ranged one above the other, and each is moved by a pair of rollers 18. Each belt has secured thereto a plurality of arms l9, each of which car-. ries a circular rod 20 having a length equal to the width of the material l5 to be operated on. The upper belt I6 rotates in a clockwise direction and the lower belt H in a counter-clockwise direction as indicated by the arrows and the arms and rods are so arranged that the material I5 is first engaged by a rod of the upper belt lBand' then by an arm of the lower belt I! to thereby partially loop successive portions of the "materiall5 about respective alternate rods of the belts, the loop provided by a rod of one belt being between adjacent arms of the other belt, and-the thickness of the arms is being relatively. small so that the loops of each plane are in relatively close proximity. v.

Each loop is formed as the belts and rods begin their travel in a horizontal path from right to left as viewed in Fig. 1, continuing inasemicircularpath around the left hand extremity-0f the upper belt and move ,fl m left to right being.

retained in looped form during such travel. Themoisture impregnated material 15 is engaged by rods 20 and pedthereabout andwhen so eneased t e m s ure c n nt is dissipat d b e. heated atmosphere within the oven. Under-theseconditions the looped material has sufiicient rerliencv o retur to it on io he reasab v lcnsated.

machine.

base plate 2| is provided witha pair of rectangular members 24 extending longitudinally of the n plate one each along opposed sides of the plate. Each member 24 is provided with a strip 25'extending longitudinally thereon which covers and p overlaps the face of the member 24 opposite the plate. A plurality of intermittently spaced bolts" 26 extend through the strips 25 and members 24. v

and are journaled in the plate thereby securing them in the position more clearlyshown in Fig. 2. The combination of the plate'2l, members M and strips 25 define a trough for receivin the sinuously formed material l5'from the forming is positioned above the .base plate 2| and is adapted to rotate in the bearings 3|)- and 3|. The shaft 21 has radially mounted thereon a plurality of substantially flLshaped-paddlewheel blades .32 having two leg portions 33 and Y34 defining a notch therebetween, the ,blades being adapted to revolve above the longitudinal axis of theshaft 21 in a paddlewheel fashion when the shaft is rotated. I

The base plate 2| is flanged-downwardly at its extremity nearest the machine to facilitate easier reception, of. the material thereon. A

. three-pronged fork member35 is provided between the shaft 21 and the base plate 2| in the plane of the strips 25 andwis mounted therebe- A shaft 21. havingv reduced end portions 28 and 29 journaled'in the extremities of the supports 22 opposite the vertical supports cilitate reception of the material into the trough.

member between the-prongs?! and 38. and

38 and 39 are very close to the path defined 'by the revolution of the outer" periphery of the blades 32. fork member 35 passes through the notches of the blades 32 in close proximity therein during revolution thereof.'- 'The reducedfend portion "28 of the shaft 2| extends" throughthesupport 22 to be received'in'an'dkeyed to' a pulley 40; A belt 4 ll connects the pul1ey'40 and the roller l8 thereby rotating the 'shaft 2'l intime'd relation with the rotation of the roller I8. I

A tube -42 positioned transversely in relation to the base plate2| is mounted by"supports 43 "to' the strips 25."'The' tube 42 has one extremity closed by .plug 44, and the other 'extremity connected to mechanism (not shown) for delivering liquid adhesive,1such as some type of fresin under pressure, thereto. The tube 42 is provided with a pluralityof orifices 45 positioned adjacent the'base plate 2| for allowing the flow of adhesive from thetube'to the upper face of the sinuous formed material l5. The size of the orifices 45 and the pressureun'der which the ad-'' hesive is delivered to the tube maybe so regu- The fork member 35 is so: positioned relative to the shaft 2! that the innermost portions of the Similarlythe center prongBB of the lated that the flow of resin from the orifices is of a steady even nature. The adhesive in the tube 42 flows between adjacent loops of the material l5 and adheres the same together;

In operation the material |5 leaves the spool l4, passes through the bath I5 and enters the oven to be contoured into a'plu'rality of sinuously fromed loops. When the material leaves the device, it is guided into the trough of the mechanism by the flanged portions of the base plate 2| and the forked member 35. The formed material is pulled from the device by the paddlewheel blades 32 which engage successive loops 'of the material. 'It may be readily seen that the force of theblades 32 exerted against the successive loops of the material I5 is transverse to that force exerted against the loops by the formingbars 20. As a result each time a blade engages a loop of the material, another loop is released from a forming bar. By this method the material is packed into thetrough and is held 'in packed position by'friction'al engagement with; the base plate 2|; As the material is pushed along the plate by the blades 32, it passesunder the tube 42 which dispose adhesive thereon through the orifices 45. p

The trough may be any c'onvenient length depending on the length of the former material to be used. The material maybe cut and stacked thereby allowing the adhesive on one face to contact the ungluedface' of anotherfsimilar length'of material.

In Fig. 7 I have shown'ja modification of my invention wherein the plate 2| "is provided'with a longitudinal 'slot for-facilitating operation of a dislodgingj 'mechanism positioned below the plate 2|. This 'mechanism comprises a' pair of shafts 46 and 41, having a' chain-like belt 48 connected there-between so that rotation of the shafts accomplishes" relative movements of the belt 48in a clockwise movement as viewed in Fig. 7. The belt43hafs rnpunted thereon a pin: rality of blades 49jwhich' movevwith the belt and engage successive loops of the contoured'ma terial. The shaft 46 is provided with a pulley 50 journalled thereonf' Abel t 5| connects the pulley 5|! and the roller l8 thereby moving the belt 48 in timed relationwi th the rotation of the roller l8. Theshafts lfijand fl are so position ed relative to the plate 2|,that a plane connecting the axes of the shafts isinclined' from the planeof the plate "2| 1 By being positioned in this manner the blades- 49 engage the looped material|5 asthey move around the shaft 46 and thereafter slowly withdraw from between the adjacent faces of "the looped material as the blades '49 approach-the shaft 41' and are com-j pletely disengaged from thematerial' as-they start their rotation about the shaft '41. This construction is advantageous in'that the blades 49 do not engage theloop s'of the looped material when they rotate about-the "sahft' 41 and thus the loops are not-' displa'ced' to a slanted position-by the rotation of thebla'des.

Although but 'orieembodiment of the inven-' tion is herein shownand described it will be understood that {various changes in the details of'construction and materials employed may be made without departing from: the spirit of-the invention. I H v u 1. In anapparat'us'for contouring sheet ma-' terial, a; plurality 0f belt driven formingfelemerits adap ed to respectivelyengageusuccessive 5. portions of the material and loop the same substantially thereabout and permanently set the material when so looped, and a plurality of rotatably mounted blades adaptedto respectively engage certain of said loops andto exert a force thereon in a direction tending to, open other of said loops to facilitate separation of the latter from their respective loop-forming elements.

2. In an aDDaratusior contouring sheet material, a plurality of belt-driven forming elements adapted to respectively engage successive portions of the material and loop the same substantially thereabout and permanently set the material when so looped, a plurality of rotatably mounted blades adapted to respectively engage certain of said loops and to exert a force thereon in a direction tending to open other of said loops to facilitate separation of the latter from their respective loop-forming elements, and a guide for receiving the looped material accommodating movement of the latter under the influence of the force exerted thereon by said blades, said looped material frictionally engaging said guide during the aforesaid movement thereof to oppose the latter to a degree such that walls of adjacent loops are urged into engagement one with the other.

3. In an apparatus for contouring sheet material, a plurality of movable elements adapted to respectively engage successive portions of the material and loop the same substantially thereabout, and paddlewheel mechanism movable in timed relationship with said elements, said mechanism having radially extending blades adapted to engage certain of said loops and exert a force thereon tending to so open other of said loops as to facilitate separation of the latter from the respective loop forming elements.

4. In apparatus for contouring sheet material, the combination comprising a machine having forming means for imparting a sinuous contour to said material, and mechanism for dislodging said material from said forming means, said mechanism comprising a base, a rotatable rod spaced relative to said base, means for rotating said rod about its longitudinal axis, and a member radially mounted on said rod and adapted to engage said material thereby pulling the same from said machine as an incident to rotation thereto.

5. In apparatus for contouring sheet material into a plurality of sinuously formed loops, the combination comprising a machine having forming means for imparting a sinuous contour to said material, and mechanism for dislodging said material from said means, said mechanism comprising a trough for receiving and frictionally engaging said formed material, a rod spaced relative to said trough and rotatable about its longitudinal axis, means rotating said rod, and a member radially mounted on said rod and adapted to engage a loop of said material to urge said loops outwardly from said machine into a packed position in said trough, said material being retained in said packed position by the frictional engagement with said trough.

6. In apparatus for contouring sheet material into a plurality of sinuously formed loops, the combination comprising a machine having forming means for imparting a sinuous contour to said material and mechanism for dislodging said material from said means, said mechanism comprising a trough for receiving and frictionally engaging said formed material, a rod spaced relatwo to'saidtrough and rotatable about its longitudinalaxis, means rotating said rod and a member'radially mountedon said rod and adapted to engage a" loop ofsaid material to urge said loops outwardly from -said'machine into a packed position in said trough, said material being retained in said packed position by the frictional engagement with said trough.

7. In apparatus for contouring sheet material into a plurality of sinuously formed loops, the combination comprising a machine having form-- ing means for imparting a sinuous contour to said'. material and mechanism for dislodging said material from said means, said mechanism comprising a trough for receiving and frictionally en gaging said formed material, a rod spaced relative to said trough and. rotatable about its longi-- tudinal axis, means rotating said rod and a member radially mounted on said rod and adapted to engage a loop of said material to urge said loops outwardly from said machine into a packed po--- sition in said trough, said material being retained in said packed position by the frictional engagement with said trough, and a container for adhesive substance disposed over said trough for discharging said substance on said material while it is in its packed position.

8. A mechanism for dislodging and packing sinuously contoured material from a forming machine comprising a trough for receiving said material having an open face, a rod rotatable along its longitudinal axis by said machine and mount ed above said trough, a plurality of members radially mounted in spaced relation on said rod for pulling said material from said machine and packing it in said trough, a forked element disposed over said open face of said trough for guiding the passage of said material through said trough, and a container for adhesive substance positioned above said trough and adapted to discharge said substance on said material.

9. In apparatus for contouring sheet material, a plurality of movable elements adapted to respectively engage successive portions of the material and loop the same substantially thereabout, and mechanism movable in timed relationship with said elements comprising spaced first and second shafts, a belt movable with and connectin said shafts, a plurality of blades mounted on said belt and adapted to engage certain of said loops and exert a force thereon tending to so open other of said loops as to facilitate separation of the latter from the respective loop forming elements, said shafts being so positioned relative to said material that the blades engage the loops when the blades are adjacent said first shaft and thereafter increasingly withdrawn from engagement therewith until finally withdrawn therefrom when adjacent said second shaft.

10. In apparatus for contouring sheet material into a plurality of sinuously formed loops, the combination comprising a machine having forming means for imparting a sinuous contour to said material and mechanism for dislodging said material from said means, said mechanism comprising a trough for receiving and frictionally engaging said former material, first and second shafts positioned relative to said trough, a belt movable with and connecting said shafts, a plurality of blades mounted on said belt and adapted to engage certain of said loops of said material to urge said loops outwardly from said machine unto a packed position in said trough, said shafts being so positioned relative to said ma- 7 terial that the blades engage the loops of said material'when the blades are adjacent said first shaft and thereafter increasingly withdrawn from engagement therewith until finally withdrawn itherefrom when adjacent said second Shaft... 1

PETER c. ANDRE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number Germany Nov. 23, 1922 

